Border crossings start to rise in spite of 'Trump effect'

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents pursue a group of immigrants who are suspected of crossing into the United States illegally, along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April and helping the U.S. end the 2017 fiscal year at a 45-year low. But since bottoming out in April, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents pick up immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April and helping the U.S. end the 2017 fiscal year at a 45-year low. But since bottoming out in April, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents pick up immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April and helping the U.S. end the 2017 fiscal year at a 45-year low. But since bottoming out in April, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, are held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since bottoming out last spring, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, are held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April and helping the U.S. end the 2017 fiscal year at a 45-year low. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, are held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. Since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents patrol for immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, after having his shoe strings removed, an immigrant suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, is held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, an immigrant suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, is held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, discarded pants are seen along a trail used by immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent escorts an immigrant suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, are held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

In this Aug. 11, 2017, photo, over heated immigrants suspected of crossing into the United States illegally along the Rio Grande near Granjeno, Texas, are held by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration, causing the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low in April. But since then, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border has been increasing monthly.Associated Press

By NOMAAN MERCHANT

MISSION, Texas -- The election of President Donald Trump contributed to a dramatic downturn in migration.

That caused the number of arrests at the border to hit an all-time low earlier this year, helping the U.S. end the 2017 fiscal year at a 45-year low.

But since bottoming out in April, the number of immigrants caught at the southern border increased monthly.

Border Patrol agents interviewed by The Associated Press say they expect numbers to keep rising. They say that's a sign that families in Central America are testing the Trump administration.

But experts who closely follow migration patterns say any drop-off was bound to be temporary as long as the countries that most people are fleeing remain ravaged by shootings and gang violence.

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